ASRM 2011 Updates

In addition to the magical wonders of Disney, Orlando welcomed reproductive endocrinologists from around the world this October to attend the annual meeting of The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).  Several members of Pacific Fertility Center were among the participants. 

Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS)

PGS was again a hot topic of discussion.  Multiple presentations showcased the recent technological advances in this field.  The ability to perform comprehensive chromosome analysis using microarray technology instead of the first generation method of FISH (fluorescent in situ hydridization), which could only test a selected number of chromosomes at a time, has increased the accuracy and the detection rate of embryonic aneuploidy (abnormal number of chromosomes).  Laboratory advances such as biopsy of the trophectoderm (the outer cell layer of a day 5 embryo) and vitrification (a method of rapid cooling of embryos that minimizes ice crystal formation) have further improved success.  As the result of the above-mentioned technical breakthroughs, we have seen a measurable increase in the pregnancy rate and a decrease in the miscarriage rate from IVF using PGS.  Additionally, two respected groups independently presented data supporting the use of PGS as a successful embryo selection tool to promote elective single embryo transfer (the process of transferring one embryo at a time into the uterus to reduce the risks of multiple gestation).  The pregnancy rates from a single PGS-selected euploid embryo were 58% and 60.7% compared to 42% and 40.7%, respectively, from a morphologically comparable but non-PGS-selected embryo.  Moreover, the miscarriage rates decreased to 6% and 6.3% from 12% and 12.5%, respectively.  The risk of multiple gestation was essentially eliminated (1-2% monozygotic twining).

We were excited to note the parallels between the data presented and our own work at PFC.  Several years ago, we made the commitment towards decreasing our multiple pregnancy rates by adopting a policy of encouraging elective single embryo transfer in qualified patients.  We have found that 24-chromosome aneuploidy screening (via informatics-based single nucleotide polymorphism microarray technology by Gene Security Network) of trophectoderm biopsy has significantly enhanced our ability to select the embryo with the best implantation potential.  Our improved vitrification program has also allowed us to reassure our patients that their unused embryos can be safely stored for future use, thus removing the pressure to transfer more embryos at one setting.  We are very proud of our success so far in achieving our goal as we are currently the number one ranked program in the nation of the fewest number of embryos transferred in donor cycles (1.4 embryos per fresh cycle) while maintaining a high pregnancy rate of 57% (of all programs with more than 20 donor cycles per year, 2009 SART).  For more details on our experience with single embryo transfer and its pregnancy rates, please read “What are my chances of having a baby from a single IVF cycle” by our embryologist, Erin Fischer, and laboratory director, Dr. Joe Conaghan, in this issue of Fertility Flash.

Fertility Preservation

Another interesting topic that deserves attention is fertility preservation using oocyte cryopreservation. Two centers with extensive experience in this area shared their outcome data from both methods of cryopreservation, slow freeze and vitrification.  A center in Atlanta vitrified over 2000 oocytes from donors with an average age of 26 years.  Of the 1772 oocytes rewarmed, 88% survived, 75% fertilized, and 51% resulted in viable cleavage stage (day 3) embryos.  Live birth rate per cryopreserved oocyte was 11%.  The other presentation by a group in New York reported their experience of rewarming 536 cryopreserved oocytes using both slow freeze and vitrification from non-donors with an average age of 32 years.  The overall live birth rate per rewarmed oocyte was 5.5%.  Study is ongoing to compare the efficacies of slow freeze and vitrification.     

PFC’s own data with vitrification of oocytes is comparable to, if not better than, the results presented at our national meeting by various groups across the US.  A 5-10% live birth rate per oocyte in women under the age of 35 years translates to a respectable chance of having a baby in the future from one to two treatment cycles in the present (10-20 oocytes can be expected to be cryopreserved per cycle).   As we further perfect our own techniques of vitrification, we will be increasingly more confident in our ability to offer young women with a viable option for future family planning in addition to embryo freezing and donor gametes.  Future research is needed to achieve the same type of success rates in older women.   

Participating at ASRM is always an educational experience.  We enjoyed sharing our own clinical and research endeavors with our colleagues across the US and all over the world.  Our position as the nation’s leader in many of the most cutting-edge technologies in our field is a validation of our commitment to excellence and to provide our patients with the highest quality care available.

PCRS Meeting Review

Pacific Fertility Center’s team directed the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society’s annual meeting in April this year.  Dr. Carolyn Givens was President of the Society and Dr. Joe Conaghan was Program Co-Chair at the meeting this year.  And what a meeting it was!

Optimizing success rates for patients was the focus, with presentations on “Improving Live Birth Rates”, videos on the importance of early embryo development, optimizing treatment protocols, and early embryo testing.  There were sessions on stress reduction, discussions on single embryo transfer, healthy debates between experts, and conversations about new advances that will improve patient care.

Alice Domar, Richard Tucker, Michael Alper and Richard Scott were among the luminaries presenting at the meeting.  Right alongside them was Joe Conaghan, Carolyn Givens, Lauri Black, and Paul Turek with matching skills and knowledge.  All were directed at improving care for our patients.

Pacific Coast Reproductive Society is one of the important professional organizations supporting fertility care.  Although they are a West Coast organization by title, Pacific Coast has developed national and international status in our field by focusing on the patients. As described on their website, “PCRS provides an outstanding forum for the exchange of information, and the advancement of the ideologies of reproductive medicine in a relaxed and collegial setting building relationships that foster the integration of current knowledge to ensure quality medical care for patients.”

Pacific Fertility Center is pleased to support Pacific Coast Reproductive Society.  We are looking forward to applying these advances, and already working on the new advances we will be talking about next year!

-Philip Chenette, M.D.

Pacific Coast Reproductive Society Highlights

One of the highlights of this year’s meeting was a talk by Sheryl Kingsberg, Ph.D., a Professor in the Dept. of Reproductive Biology and the Chief of the Division of Behavioral Medicine at Case Western University. Dr. Kingsberg’s area of expertise is in Human Sexuality and sexual disorders in women. She gave an excellent synopsis of “normal” sexuality in our culture and how we have come to view and define that norm. She also provided background on the physiology of sexual excitement and sexual response in women. She spoke about the different classifications of sexual disorders, which includes Hypo-active Sexual Desire Disorder (what we know as low libido), Sexual Aversion Disorder, Female Sexual Arousal Disorder, Female Orgasmic Disorder, and the Pain Disorders: Dyspareunia (painful intercourse) and Vaginismus (localized vaginal and vulvar pain).

Dr Kingsberg also covered the topic of sexual dysfunction and sexual function. One of the most valuable things she discussed was that doctors should use a sexual function checklist. Here is the checklist she presented:

Please answer the following questions about your overall sexual function in the past 3 months or more:

Please answer the following questions about your overall sexual function in the past 3 months or more:

1. Are you satisfied with your sexual function?
   • Yes
   • No              If no, please continue.
2. How long have you been dissatisfied with your sexual function?
3. The problem(s) with your sexual function is: (mark one or more):
   1. Problems with little or no interest in sex
   2. Problems with decreased genital sensation (feeling)
   3. Problems with decreased vaginal lubrication (dryness)
   4. Problems reaching orgasm
   5. Problems with pain during sex
   6. Other
4. Which problem is most bothersome?  Circle one: 1  2  3  4  5  6 
5. Would you like to talk about it with your doctor?
   • Yes
   • No

Many of us at the conference realized there is a need to identify and assist our fertility patients that also may be suffering from sexual dysfunction. We need to spend a few moments covering this topic with our patients. We will be considering how to add these types of questions to our current patient history forms. We want to identify the patients with sexual dysfunction in addition to fertility problems so we may assist them in finding the appropriate resources for treatment.

-Carolyn Givens, M.D.

Genetic Testing Breakthrough

Genetic screening techniques are a prime topic of research and dialogue in the IVF community.  We continue to seek techniques that are 1) accurate, 2) have quick turnaround times for results, and are 3) versatile enough to be able to give a breadth of testing results on one embryo, as well as 4) cost effective.

One of the exciting presentations at PCRS was by a firm called Gene Security Network (GSN), whose laboratory is in Redwood City, CA. GSN has been on the forefront of providing pre-implantation embryo genetic testing which is accurate, covers all 23 pairs of chromosomes including the sex chromosomes, and provides results within 24-48 hours post embryo biopsy (therefore negating the need to freeze embryos while waiting for the genetic results, as with the CGH technique). This technique, developed by GSN, is called Parental Support.

Parental Support is a new technology for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) that tests all 24 chromosomes in a single cell from an embryo (called a blastomere) for a variety of genetic abnormalities. The test reliability typically exceeds 99% and results are returned within 24 hours in time for Day 5 embryo transfer.

Single gene mutations (such as cystic fibrosis) have been traditionally tested for as one genetic test only.  Dual testing, the ability to test for both single gene mutation and aneuploidy screening was not able to be done accurately or easily.  GSN has been working on this challenge of dual testing, and had just announced the birth of the first baby born after such dual screening—a healthy baby girl.

This announcement was also exciting for us, since the patient who is now a proud parent of a healthy baby, was a PFC patient.

We continue to collaborate with GSN on current and upcoming clinical trials, pushing the frontiers of genetic testing of embryos, and of diagnostic testing that promotes the creation of healthiest babies possible.

-Isabelle Ryan, M.D.

I had a case recently which demonstrated to me the utility of Gene Security Network’s (GSN) Microarray Chromosome Analysis with Parental Support.  A 40 year old patient had previously had a miscarriage and underwent a D&C procedure, complicated by her hemorrhage and appropriate vigorous curettage.  Following that procedure, her endometrial cavity appeared compromised with both filmy and dense adhesions found at a subsequent hysteroscopy.  Some of the adhesions were lysed but the question of the competency of her uterus remained.

She conceived again with fertility treatment but had a fetus that underwent demise between the 6 and the 7 week ultrasounds.  I really wanted to know if the pregnancy loss was due to her uterine compromise or due to fetal aneuploidy. 

We performed a suction D&C and the chorionic villi as well as a sample of maternal blood was sent to GSN for Microarray Chromosome Analysis evaluation.  The results of this testing indicated a fetal karyotype of 47,XX,+10 (Trisomy 10).  Unique to this testing, GSN was able to determine that the abnormality was of maternal origin.  Also, if the result had been 46,XX,GSN would have been able to definitively rule out maternal cell contamination (MCC). GSN provided me with a report in less than a week.

With this information, we knew we could proceed on without further treatment to her uterus.  We considered egg donation because it was likely this loss was due to the egg and subsequent embryo’s chromosomal non-disjunction and it was less likely to be a uterine issue.  GSN’s POC testing helped me guide this patient’s future treatment decisions.

-Carolyn Givens, M.D.

Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, I have been a transplant to the Bay Area ever since starting graduate school in 1996.  I remained in the area for the fabulous professional opportunities.  It was here I met my husband and now am also blessed with a son.  I have always had a deep appreciation and love of nature.  Living in the Bay Area has allowed me to nurture this passion in the form of surfing, sailing and most recently snowshoeing.

I began my career as a practicing genetic counselor in the spring of 1998 when I accepted a position at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center in the Departments of Reproductive Genetics and Urology just prior to completing my graduate work at the University of California Berkeley’s Genetic Counseling Program.  It was my good fortune to begin my career with some of the most influential physicians in the field of reproductive medicine:  Eldon Schriock, Carolyn Givens, Isabelle Ryan and Paul Turek. In addition, I worked with Dr. Joe Conaghan to build the Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Program at UCSF.    These physicians moved from UCSF to PFC, and soon after I moved from UCSF to California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC).  I was able then to re-establish our collaborative efforts with the additional advantage of working with the experienced Drs. Carl Herbert and Philip Chenette. We have learned much from each other over the years and continue to foster wonderful professional and personal relationships. In December of 2010, I left CPMC to branch out into private practice.  I am thrilled to be working more closely with the providers and patients at PFC in my new role as an in-house genetic counselor. 

As a genetic counselor, I am a health care professional trained in human genetics and counseling. I have a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling and in 1999 was certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.  Genetic counselors practice in several subspecialty areas of genetics, including assisted reproduction technologies, infertility genetics, and prenatal diagnosis.  My job is to help you understand the complex information regarding your situation and enable you to make an informed decision as to what’s best for you. 

The most common reason your infertility doctor would refer you for a consultation is to discuss the testing of embryos.  There are two basic types of testing. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is the testing of embryos for a specific genetic disease known in the family.  Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) is the testing of embryos for general chromosome abnormalities such as Down syndrome.

The two main objectives in a genetic consultation for PGD/S are  family history review and informed consent.  During the review of family history, I take at least a three generation family tree (pedigree) to identify any additional genetic risks.  This process helps to clarify the correct type of PGD/S being offered, as well as to identify any additional testing that might be appropriate.  Medical records may be requested for review if there is a significant family history or to document familial mutations for PGD. This part of the consultation is typically less time consuming.

The informed consent portion of the consult includes an in depth discussion of the PGD/S process, from beginning to end, and a review of the information in the consent form.  For those who have already had IVF treatment, some of this explanation may be familiar.  However, as complex as the process of IVF is, embryo testing adds yet another layer of complexity.  In addition to the steps in the IVF process, there are the biopsy procedures, the testing of a single or more cells for specific chromosome abnormalities, DNA markers, and/or gene mutations, and then the review of the PGD/S report results prior to embryo transfer.  My job is to guide you through this process mentally, prior to the actual cycle, so hopefully there are no unanticipated outcomes for you.  Even more critical is the consent form review before signing.  Consent forms are designed to inform and protect patients.  Important information is contained in the consent form, including risks and limitations of PGD/S, as well as the purpose of the procedure and the diagnostic technique.  The informed consent portion of the consultation is typically the more in depth part of the discussion and is intended to address all of your questions about this option prior to your cycle start. I am available to answer these questions and witness your signature.   The entire consultation usually lasts one and a half to two hours depending on the type of testing being discussed and the number of questions you have.

I also work with the PFC Egg Donor Agency to provide genetic risk assessment for all prospective ovum donors. The EDA has implemented this protocol to ensure that their donors have been screened in accordance to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines. Any genetic risk from family history is addressed.  This screening is just one of the ways the EDA works to optimize your pregnancy outcome when using an ovum donor.

In addition, I am available on request to provide a genetic risk assessment for you, even if there is no embryo testing or ovum donor included in your treatment cycle.  Some of you may have questions concerning conditions in your families, and want to discuss what impact that history may have on your or your children’s future health.  Discuss these concerns with your infertility doctor, so they may determine whether a genetic risk assessment consultation is appropriate for you. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to work directly with PFC.  I wish all of you the best in your family building pursuits.

Most sincerely,

Lauri Black, MS, CGC

Certified Genetic Counselor

In November I had the opportunity to travel to Shanghai, China to attend a conference on emerging molecular technologies (Molecular Medicine 2010). As an invited speaker, I presented a talk concerning the use of micro-array DNA analysis to evaluate single human embryonic cells for both genetic disease and chromosome copy number (see lead article in this issue). As part of my talk, I presented the case of one of the patients featured in this issue’s Patient Odyssey. She was our first patient to have her embryos screened for both myotonic dystrophy and for chromosome copy number.  As a result of this successful testing, she is due to deliver her healthy daughter soon.

The trip to Shanghai itself was quite interesting. My husband accompanied me and we were there for one week. The population of Shanghai is about 20 million! The number of high-rise buildings and skyscrapers continued for dozens of miles before even entering the city center. The subway system there is excellent and street traffic was not too bad. The traffic was constant, though, with beeping horns heard 24 hours a day. The weather in November was fairly pleasant but the skies were always hazy, with a combination of marine layer and pollution. The city was full of incredible shopping destinations with rows of designer shops with every name brand designer you can think of. The local shops’ goods, however, were very low-end and left a lot to be desired.  In the usual tourist areas, street people were constantly trying to get us to follow them to view their “knock-off” counterfeit goods. We visited several parks and temples and tried to take in as much local culture as possible. The traditional Chinese architecture and culture is disappearing quickly in this fast-paced economy.

We had the opportunity to visit an IVF center in Shanghai, affiliated with one of the local hospitals. This center performs over 2,000 IVF cycles per year (compared to 800 a year at PFC). The center was not as clean as I would have hoped and there was a very crowded waiting room of patients waiting for ultrasound scans, blood tests and procedures. I did not get the sense that providing accommodating customer service was high on their list of priorities. Speaking to one of the laboratory staff there, it does seem as though they do most of the same type of IVF work we do at PFC, with the exception of ovum donation, surrogacy and sex selection, all of which are not allowed in the IVF centers in China.

Overall, it was a fascinating trip and I enjoyed the chance to tell others about the exciting new genetic technology affecting fertility patients.

-Carolyn Givens, M.D.

The field of Assisted Reproduction has always been one of rapidly evolving technologies, but nowhere more so than in the area of screening embryos. Screening is possible for not only genetic disease (PGD) and but also abnormal numbers of chromosomes (PGS). Along with the revolution in human DNA biotechnology, new companies such as Gene Security Network of Redwood City, California have emerged.  They are able to apply information from the Human Genome Project to the analysis of DNA from single human embryonic cells.

It is now possible to accurately diagnose most any human genetic disease in a pre-implantation human embryo. We do not even need to know the mutated sequence as long as there is DNA available from the parents that carry the mutation. By using what are called “linked markers”, we can make an analysis from the amplified DNA from a single embryonic cell and compare it to the parental DNA to determine the likelihood that any one embryo received mutated copies from either parent. This analysis is done at the time of an IVF cycle when the embryos are in the IVF laboratory. Affected embryos carrying mutations that may cause the disease, such as cystic fibrosis or muscular dystrophy, are not transplanted back into the mother’s uterus.

Until recently, a single embryonic cell could only be analyzed for either a mutated gene sequence using a limited number of markers (usually about 10) or for chromosome copy number (karyotype), but not both at the same time. In the last year, Gene Security Network has offered testing of DNA for BOTH genetic mutations (when parents are at risk for having affected offspring) AND for chromosome copy number to rule out Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18, or any other “aneuploidies” that can cause implantation failure or miscarriage. Both tests can be done on the amplified DNA from a single cell. Pacific Fertility Center has been participating in their pilot studies on this project and, due to the success of the initial group of patients PFC is now offering this type of testing routinely to couples that need this service. We welcome this change because it means we can now not only select unaffected embryos, but also have a fairly high confidence that the embryos we select for embryo transfer have normal chromosome copy numbers and will have a good chance of establishing a normal pregnancy.

Another area in which this DNA micro-array technology has found application is in the area of testing miscarriages for chromosome copy number. In the past, if we wanted to know if the reason a miscarriage had occurred was due to abnormal chromosomes, we had to do a D&C procedure, obtain placental DNA and send it to a cytogenetics lab. At the cytogenetics lab, the placental tissue had to be put into cell culture to try to capture dividing cells, which is the only way a karyotyping analysis could be performed. If the placental tissue contained no viable, living cells, the culture would fail and there would be no results. If the analysis revealed a 46 XX karyotype, we could not be sure that this was a normal female miscarried or if the cell culture was contaminated with maternal DNA. Now we can send the placental tissue with a sample of the mother’s blood, and the lab can tell if the DNA is maternal or not and the tissue does not need to be viable to get a result. This then allows us to determine if a pregnancy loss was due to abnormal fetal chromosomes, one of the most common causes of miscarriage.

There is no doubt that all of these new genetic technologies will continue to evolve over time, becoming even more rapid and accurate than they are today. It is exciting to be involved with applying the latest science and biotech has to offer to help solve clinical problems for our fertility patients.

-Carolyn Givens, M.D.

The American Society of Reproductive Medicine Meeting (ASRM) is the major fertility meeting in the United States.  The meeting is held once a year and highlights the latest developments in fertility treatment. This year, several members of the Pacific Fertility team where able to attend the conference in Denver, Colorado.   

The major presentation at the meeting was an update on the FASTT (fast track and standard treatment) trial. This is a study of 500 couples with unexplained infertility in women 39 years of age or younger.  Couples were randomized to either standard treatment or fast track treatment. Standard treatment was 3 cycles of clomiphene/IUI (fertility pills), 3 cycles of FSH/IUI (fertility injections), then in vitro fertilization (IVF). The fast track treatment followed the same protocol, but omitted the FSH/IUI.  Couples in the fast track group achieved pregnancy sooner, with fewer treatment cycles, and at less cost. 

IVF programs, like our program at Pacific Fertility Center, are achieving excellent pregnancy rates by transferring one or two embryos in an IVF procedure.  This fast track approach also reduces the risk of multiple pregnancies by excluding FSH/IUI treatment; a protocol that poses a significant risk of multiples.  Pregnancy rates remained good through the first 3 IVF cycles; 78% of patients became pregnant in the fast track group.  When completed, this study should help couples decide between FSH/IUI treatment and IVF.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) continues to be an active area of research.  PGD has been very effective in helping patients at risk of having a child with a genetic disorder. However, it has been controversial as to whether PGD improves pregnancy rates in couples with infertility and no genetic disorders. Older studies indicated no benefit, but we have come to realize that the older technology was inaccurate and incomplete. The older studies used fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) for chromosome testing. In this process, only a portion of the 23 chromosome pairs could be analyzed and the accuracy of the test was very poor.

The latest techniques are now very accurate and complete. New techniques use DNA fingerprinting technology, where all 23 pairs of chromosomes are analyzed. One of the first randomized controlled trials of PGD was presented at this meeting. In this trial, the pregnancy rate was much higher in the treatment group.  Embryos were biopsied on day 5.  This protocol allowed the cells for biopsy to be taken from the trophectoderm, the part of the embryo that develops into the placenta. This technique may prove to be safer for the embryo and decrease the chance of a misdiagnosis due to mosaicism.  However, challenges still remain. The current technology in its most common form requires biopsy on day 5, freezing of all of the embryos, and then thawing normal embryos for transfer after the genetic diagnosis is complete. As the speed of the evaluation improves, biopsy and transfer on day 5 will become more common, and there will be no need to freeze and thaw the embryos.

PFC has been very active in helping women preserve their fertility when facing chemotherapy for breast cancer.  Letrozole is a medication used to help grow eggs and keep estrogen levels low during stimulation in IVF cycles. Women have the option to do an emergency IVF cycle, which allows them to preserve their eggs or embryos and use them after their breast cancer treatment is completed. In a recent study, which proved to be very reassuring, 129 women used this protocol to collect eggs. They were followed for up to 7 years. Relapse rates of breast cancer were compared to a similar group of women who opted not to do IVF prior to chemotherapy. The relapse rate in the IVF group was lower than the group that did not undergo IVF, 2% vs. 25%. The pregnancy rates in the IVF group were very good, resulting in 36% per frozen embryo transfer. Women with breast cancer can be safely offered this protocol when undergoing fertility preservation prior to chemotherapy.

Insulin resistance is common in women with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD). In these women, the insulin does not work as well, resulting in higher insulin levels to maintain normal blood sugar levels; similar to Type II diabetes.  Metformin is a medication that improves insulin function and has been used to improve pregnancy rates in women with PCOD.

In a recent study, women with 2 previously failed IVF cycles and without PCOD were randomized.  One group went through one cycle of IVF with metformin, and the other group without metformin.  The metformin group had higher pregnancy rates, 33% vs. 2%. Insulin resistance is associated with aging and stress, which are common among women who repeatedly fail with IVF. As a result, metformin may help women without obvious signs of insulin resistance.

Adenomyosis was the topic of another very informative session. Adenomyosis is a benign disorder where the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) grows into the muscle of the uterus. It may be the single most common undiagnosed gynecological condition and the most common cause of gynecological pain. Adenomyosis may be a normal part of uterine aging.  Adenomyosis is commonly associated with fibroids and endometriosis, and is more common in women who have already had a pregnancy. The most common symptoms are: heavy menses, painful menses, pelvic tenderness, and infertility.  In the past, an MRI scan was needed to make the diagnosis. However, new studies show an ultrasound is just as accurate, both sensitivity and specificity, as MRI. Adenomyosis can be found in up to 25% of infertile women. The role of adenomyosis in causing infertility remains controversial. However, current studies indicate large areas of adenomyosis and adenomyosis near the endometrium can decrease fertility.  Now that an ultrasound can be  used more commonly and can accurately diagnosis adenomyosis, the impact of adenomyosis on fertility will be better defined.

Attending this annual meeting of professionals in the field of reproductive technology is always informative. We look forward to meeting with colleagues from around the country and sharing the latest research. Several of the research projects currently in progress at PFC were discussed at this meeting.

Since Pacific Fertility Center came into existence in November of 1999, we have been offering genetic pre-screening of IVF embryos for couples with recurrent miscar- riage, repeated IVF implantation failure and sex selection for family balancing. For most of the last decade, a technology known as Fluorescent In-Situ Hybridization, or FISH has been used to screen embryos. FISH is employed to probe a cell removed from a Day 3 embryo to determine the chromosomal makeup for anywhere from three to twelve of the cell’s 23 pairs of chromosomes. With time, we, as well as everyone else in the reproductive genetic world, came to realize the serious limitations of this technology.

In the last 2-3 years, as the Human Genome Project has been completed and as more DNA-related biotechnologies have emerged to evaluate human genes, these methods are being utilized to analyze human embryos. The technology now available—the ability to analyze large numbers of genetic locations on each human chromosome, and quantify that genetic material, with the previously well-established techniques to amplify a single cell’s genetic material up to hundreds of thousands of copies—has allowed PGS to take a quantum leap forward. It is now possible to more accurately analyze all 23 chromosome pairs from a single embryo; not only to determine if the correct number of copies of each chromosome is present, but also to look at single gene mutations.

At the end of 2009, Pacific Fertility Center began working with a new biotech company called Gene Security Network, located in Redwood City (genesecurity.net). This company uses gene microarray technology to analyze amplified DNA from a single cell.

It then uses microchips to analyze 30,000 genetic loci in a quantitative manner. In addition, their unique technology allows us to compare the analysis of the embryos’ cells to the parent’s chromosomes to ensure that all the genes are being properly analyzed. It does appear that the error problems that plagued FISH technology have been overcome with this new, more sophisticated, method.

In October of 2009, Dr. Conaghan and I were invited to tour the GSN laboratory and see the technology in action. We met with David Johnson, the lead scientist at GSN, who explained the cell process; from the amplification of the DNA, to arranging the chromosomes on chips, to DNA analysis, to synthesizing the data generated with the parental genetic data to come up with a full analysis of that cell’s genome. In order to process the cells between the day of embryo biopsy (Day 3) and receive the results on the day of embryo transfer (Day 5), their technicians work around the clock in shifts. GSN has a very cold, clean room to replicate the single cells into multiple copies. They cannot allow any outside contamination, not even from a single cell. They videotape the cell duplicating process so if any errors subsequently arise, they have a video record of what the laboratory technician did. We found this to be very impressive. We also saw how the chips were coated with DNA and analyzed. We were shown the sophisticated software that generates the final report detailing the genetic makeup of each embryo from the cells in which they originated. All in all, the tour gave us great confidence in the quality control and scientific integrity at GSN.

Even with this 21st century technology, we continue to biopsy Day 3 embryos because it provides us with a 48 hours window to send the cells to the lab and complete the analysis in time for transfer. However, we have not yet found a way around the problem of mosa- icism. GSN and microarray technology appears to have largely solved the resolution error problem but it can only tell us what is in the chromosomal make-up of the single cell. It cannot tell us whether or not that cell represents what is truly going on with the rest of the embryo. We are currently looking at the possibility of biopsying Day 5 embryos. The set back would result in having to freeze these embryos due to the time constraint in analyzing the genetic material in time for fresh transfer. With all of the innovation occurring daily in the genetics field, we hope that this puzzle will be resolved.

— Carolyn Givens, M.D.

Previous Fertility Flash articles about PGS:
2 Methods of Gaining Info Prior to Implantation
PGD & PGS: Why Genetic Counseling is a Prerequisite
The Benefits and Pitfalls of PGS

Progress has been steady at the Center this week. From last Sunday up until this coming Saturday we will do 13 egg retrievals, 14 fresh embryo transfers, 6 frozen embryo transfers and one hysteroscopy. It looks to be a fairly typical week.

Last Saturday I attended an investigators’ meeting, along with our lab director, Dr. Joe Conaghan, for a new clinical research study that we may be undertaking with Gene Security Network (GSN). GSN is one of the pre-implantation genetic diagnosis/screening (PGD/PGS) laboratories with which we work. I really can’t discuss the details of the study at this time, as we have signed a standard non-disclosure agreement with GSN, but this will be a big study to investigate how useful PGS will be to the average IVF patient.

This leads me to the topic of today’s blog: clinical research. Although PFC is not an academic institution, we are still interested in research because this is how the field of reproductive medicine advances. In fact, since there are so many private IVF clinics, much of the research on IVF is currently being done in the private sector. We would not have the field of assisted reproduction today if it were not for clinical research and for the thousands of patients who have participated in this research to this point. I’d like our readers to know that participation in research is not taken lightly by anyone conducting the studies. As investigators, we all have to be trained in the ethical conduct of research, to make sure the risks of participation are minimized and that there is potential benefit to patients from participation. Our number one goal is still to get our patients a healthy pregnancy. We will not compromise that goal for the sake of a clinical study. The study protocols are carefully reviewed by an independent Institutional Review Board (IRB), tasked with ensuring there is no harm or undue coercion to participants. In most good studies, the design of the study includes a “control arm” and the patients who are randomized into this arm receive current standard treatment. The patients randomized to the “treatment arm” receive the treatment under investigation. It is very important that the patients in the treatment arm should be expected to be at least as successful, if not more so, than the patients in the control arm.

This year, PFC is participating in at least 4 clinical studies. Some, like our acupuncture study, are designed by PFC and are only being done at our facility. Some, like the GSN study, are being designed by the company and will be done at multiple IVF centers, then GSN will pool the data.  If you are interested, please let us know. I will be posting more details very soon to our PFC website.

UPDATE: Research web page is live

Pacific Fertility Center and The Fertility Flash would like to invite you to a special Valentine’s Day event.
Do You Love Your Genes? Tweetup/Meetup (a Valentine’s Day event)
Thursday February 11, 2010 at 5:30pm
Pacific Fertility Center’s Education Center
55 Francisco St., Suite 550
San Francisco, California 94133 Get Directions

Please join us for genes, love, award-winning wine, chocolate, and tasty, healthy appetizers!

To view the invitation, click here

This is an in-person and virtual event for all who would like to participate and learn about the leading edge of genetics and fertility. We will also be tweeting live during the event to communicate with and connect tweeters.

Genes are an important part of life, especially for those who are struggling to conceive a child.  At this event we will celebrate these building blocks of life in all forms, whether they come from biological parents, birth parents, or donors.

We will also be joined by representatives from Counsyl and the Gene Security Network (GSN) to speak about their cutting edge genetic testing technologies.

For more details on our presenters see:

Pacific Fertility Center: http://pacificfertilitycenter.com
Counsyl: http://counsyl.com
GSN: http://genesecurity.net

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Please RSVP at rsvp@fertilitywire.com or on Facebook at http://bit.ly/bopZUZ

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—Best regards from all of us at Pacific Fertility Center.